Yin Jiuxiao began to look forward to the sound of A Zi's footsteps.

When reviewing memorials late into the night, he would subconsciously leave a light on, knowing that some shameless little assassin would definitely come and urge him on.

In the chilly autumn, he inexplicably ordered the kitchen to make ginger soup. By the time he realized what was happening, it had already been sent to the suicide squad camp.

The most terrifying thing was one night when he was plagued by nightmares. In his hazy state of consciousness, Yin Jiuxiao grabbed her hand and cried out, "...Don't go."

Once she regained consciousness, Azi laughed so hard she almost fell over, saying something incredibly disrespectful: "Your Majesty's coquettish manner is so adorable!"

Yin Jiuxiao watched as he threw her out of the bedchamber, his ears burning red. But after closing the door, he stood there, staring blankly against the door. He was afraid, afraid that she would discover that he could no longer live without her.

Sometimes Yin Jiuxiao would sneak into the assassin camp late at night, gaze at her sleeping face, and violent thoughts would suddenly surge up. The entire dynasty was his, and Azi was his too, so he would lock her up.

He broke her wings and confined her to the palace, put a gold chain on her, and made her forever only able to look at him.

"It's so cold..."

But whenever this happened, Azi would seem to sense danger, her eyes half-open in a daze, muttering like a cat.

All his dark thoughts crumbled, and he gently tucked her in, sighed inwardly, closed the window, and turned to leave.

He could tolerate an uncertain future, but he could never tolerate the sight of the light in her eyes going out.

"So you indulge my lawlessness? Is it because you've already fallen in love with me?"

On the swing in the Imperial Garden, Zi Xi swung her legs and ate grapes. Sitting beside her, Yin Jiuxiao, who had just recovered from a serious illness, snatched the grapes from her hand: "I have been talking to you for several hours... not because I wanted you to fall in love with me out of pity..."

"Hmm? This is a matter of life and death for me. How could I possibly like you out of pity?"

Zi Xi looked strange. Wasn't what Yin Jiuxiao was talking about exactly how he fell in love with her?

Otherwise, why would they not sleep on afternoons when they have no tasks? Yin Jiuxiao has just recovered from his illness, are they too idle to come to the Imperial Garden to listen to him say these things?

"I...like to hear your laughter."

"It will make me feel that living is no longer so lonely."

Yin Jiuxiao touched Zi Xi's mask. He had never seen Zi Xi's face, but no matter what appearance suited her, he liked her.

Zi Xi smiled beneath her mask, pounced on him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek: "Then Your Majesty should smile more often in the future, so we can reciprocate!"

Yin Jiuxiao paused for a moment, then lowered his head and raised it in an awkward yet gentle gesture.

What truly imprisoned him was never the chains, but the warmth of someone's hand that made him willingly confine himself to their own little world.

"Azi, may I see your face beneath the mask?"

Yin Jiuxiao was a little embarrassed, so he went around to the back and gently rocked the swing.

It was partly out of curiosity, and partly because he wanted to complete the portrait of Azi, who had no face, and hang it in the imperial study.

Zi Xi nodded in agreement, her fingertips resting on the edge of the silver mask. With a gentle lift, the mask fell, and Yin Jiuxiao nearly fell to the ground.

It's not for any other reason than that I was captivated by its beauty.

The rules of the assassin camp forbid people from showing their true faces. Even in front of him, Azi always wore that cold mask.

But now, the beautiful face hidden behind the mask has been unexpectedly exposed to him.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like cold stars, and her lips were as pale as newly blooming cherry blossoms, yet they had a delicate pallor due to years of lack of sunlight, making her look exceptionally beautiful.

Yin Jiuxiao's breath hitched, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he momentarily forgot to speak.

"Has Your Majesty seen enough?"

Seeing that he was staring straight at her, Zi Xi frowned and thought about putting the mask back on.

It's like getting used to wearing a mask for a certain period of time, and then feeling empty when you don't wear one.

"...That's certainly not enough."

Yin Jiuxiao finally came to his senses, but he still couldn't take his eyes off her, his voice low and hoarse.

"Oh, Your Majesty, are you lusting after a beautiful woman?"

Zi Xi raised her eyebrows slightly and teased Yin Jiuxiao.